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Monday, 12 May 2014

The allotment - mid May

A quick visit to the allotment today to pick asparagus. The asparagus bed needs weeding next time, but today was more of a day for picking and wandering around looking at what's happening.

Here's another bit that desperately needs tackling - the rhubarb patch behind the shed. The poor rhubarb doesn't stand a chance amongst the grass and weeds. I think I'll have to dig it up and keep it in a pot for a bit while I sort out the mess. But it's feeling like it might be a biggish job, so I'm thinking I'll have to put it off for a bit.

Round the front of the shed the artichokes are flourishing. I even found a couple of buds to harvest.

I love the colours, and as luck would have it they perfectly match the asparagus. This is a variety called Gros Vert de Laon that I grew from seed a couple of years ago. Apparently it has the biggest heart of any artichoke.

The last of the apple blossom.

And a rather lonely plumlet.

This is on a tiny little tree that I planted last year after it had a very rough start in life due to small boys and footballs. It had hardly any blossom this year, but it does have quite a lot of foliage. So I think this year it's having a rest from trying to produce fruit and it's going to concentrate on getting bigger and stronger, which is fine with me.

In the handful of days since I last visited the potatoes have burst forth. Quite amazing how fast they grow. The planting looks quite close together and a little haphazard. It was done by the little people and there was a slightly edgy competitive element going on at the time. But I'm happy to have them helping, whatever the result.

The onions are also looking quite close together. Hopefully they won't mind too much, it's not as though they have masses of foliage.

Little radishes, one of my favourite things to grow early in the season. And probably the first thing I ever grew as a child. The boys have planted some as well, they're quite satisfying for little people to grow - nice and fast and easy.

The gooseberries are scaring me a little. Two vast bushes, already covered with decent sized berries. I haven't finished up last year's lot yet, there are still some in the freezer. Anyone got any good gooseberry recipes? I have one for fool, but I'm wondering if I could make Eton mess with gooseberries cooked with elderflower. It might be quite delicious.

A final look down the plot as I headed for home. Don't worry, I did remember to shut the shed door. There's been another spate of shed break-ins lately, as well as some vandalism. The brown shed to the right of mine in the picture has been broken into repeatedly. And the shed behind where I'm stood taking the photo as well. And the one just out of shot over to the left. I think I'm spared because I don't have a window or a conventional shed padlock. My corrugated shed has an ordinary door handle and is quite a tough structure. Although I shouldn't speak too soon.

The edges are a bit of a shocker aren't they. I'll add it to my to-do list.

On my way back across the site I passed so many amazing plots. I really must go back with my camera and take some pictures of them, they deserve to be seen! There have certainly been some serious hours put in to get them in such beautiful shape.

If you're a gardener, how are things growing for you right now? What have you dared to plant out so far? Wishing you some good gardening weather, CJ xx

33 comments:

How does this "allotment" thing work? Do you rent the land? It seems very interesting.

We have some community gardens in Orlando, but nothing close enough for me to do. I can't grow anything in my yard. The deer would eat it down to nothing. We have a couple of hot pepper plants in pots and I do my orchids on the porch. That's the extent of our gardening here.

You are so far ahead of me now. My onions went in this weekend, my potatoes have yet to sprout and I have another set waiting patiently to be sown. My seedlings are doing well in the polytunnel but it is still far to cold for planting out. We had a vicious hail storm today........

Your produce and allotment is looking amazing. I think if you dig up that rhubarb it may stop producing for the rest of the year :(

How great to have your very own homegrown asparagus!! You must love being able to take that home and eat it and think yes, I grew that! The idea for the gooseberry eton mess sounds lovely, I find that it can be a bit too sweet sometimes with the strawberries and meringue, so the gooseberry would counteract that nicely wouldn't it. Hope that your shed stays safe! xx

I'm always amazed at how beautiful your garden is and that you grow things! I'm afraid I don't have much of a knack for keeping plants alive. I do think it would be nice to try to grow some herbs, though. Maybe if I start small I'll do a better job at remembering to water them:) Hope you had a wonderful weekend, CJ!

It's all looking wonderful, CJ. I would love to have so many homegrown foods to eat. It must feel really good to be able to give them to the boys. I'm growing mostly flowers right now, but our grapes and strawberries are beginning to show signs of fruit to come.

Hey friend! Your crops are looking so very beautiful! Seriously! You have inspired me to get out with my camera though I have so much more to do. And I think that artichokes are just beautiful! You photographed yours perfectly! A job well done for growing good food for your family! Keep the pics coming and a happy week to you friend! Nicole xoxo

I think its the year for gooseberries, my two bushes are also smothered with them. So jealous about your globe artichokes, my carefully covered to protect from frost ones have given up the ghost. I have new seedlings in the greenhouse. Good luck with your weeding.

I'm really lucky as Dad has an allotment and brings us fresh fruit and veg, without the hard work! :)My garden has really taken off - so much foliage, but it is a little battered after the winds at the weekend. A gardeners work is never done! But I do try and find the time to sit back and enjoy the hard work, otherwise it become a chore. X

It's all looking good. As for the rhubarb patch I'd wait until later in the year then perhaps dig it all up, remove all the grass and weeds, add plenty of compost, replant the bits you want then put a 'duvet' of compost over the top for the winter. You'll have to remember to pick sparingly next year if you do that .The potatoes and onions should be fine. Flighty xx

I've never tried artichokes, they always seem very fiddly to me. It's all looking great, and those spuds look fine, I'd much rather have kids helping me than regimented lines. Your onions look great, mine haven't bulked up so much yet, fingers crossed as I've had a poor onion harvest for the last few years.

All we grow so far is flowers.. we do have boards to make raised beds, but we've had them now 3 years. :-) Your garden looks wonderful.. I wish you lived nearby and you could grow your garden on our farm! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Your asparagus and artichokes make my mouth water, I love both vegetables, a lot. I like to dip the artichoke leaves in mayonnaise and scrape the fleshy base off with my teeth until I have done this with all the leaves, all the while getting more and more exited about the heart. Childhood memory, pure and simple.I would make jam with the gooseberries, it turns a beautiful orangey colour when cooked. I quite like the soft grassy edges around your beds. Enjoy your produce! x

We've got more plumlets than leaves provided the wood pigeons haven't returned. Perhaps we could do an exchange. Your plot is looking good. We've a rhubarb and grass area to clear out but it might be a while before it gets sorted.

Wow - those are impressive artichokes! I have never grown them - they seem like so much plant for such little food! What a shame the allotment sheds get broken into. You just ruined my idyllic English allotment fantasy - all chummy neighbors with tidy plots all in a row. Ah, real life.

I love your allotment but I also realise it is huge work. You also seem to be very successful. I don't have any land so I grow everything in containers. I have planted salads (which have been devastated by cats!), carrots, lily of the valley, cosmos (different colors), calendula, borrache, marigold, radishes... I have herbs which I have been able to carry from a year to another... My tulips finally came out, at least two weeks after all others! And I bought a rose, I will see how good I am at keeping it. The season starts to be interesting!

Artichokes are my favorite, but I've never thought of growing. I thought they took several years to produce anything and who has that kind of patience!? I hand laid 6 cubic feet of barkdust around my garden last night and today I can't walk! So far, I have tomatoes, spring onions and broccoli in the ground. The squirrels are digging up my gladiola bulbs so I am in a bit of a state over that. All we need now in Portland, OR is warm dry weather (and no critters)!

Great green photos! I love watching your garden grow. I like the photo of the close up of the onions and radishes. They are ... happy to me. The cousins pulled radishes for the table with butter and salt at my mother in law's this weekend. Me? Not growing asparagus, but definitely roasting it :)

I always love to see how your allotment is getting on and yes, please show us some of the fancy ones too, that would be fun. I love asparagus, we eat it loads, and I imagine it's so gratifying to grow your own. Gooseberries, though, no thanks. Too tart! xx

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Welcome to Above the River. I'm CJ and this is where I talk about life as it happens to me, in a small market town in South Gloucestershire, where I live with my other half and our three boys. I like making things and growing things. If you'd like to comment, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks for visiting.